Hammock supporting assembly



Nov. 25, 1952 J. P] COLE ET'AL mmsass HAMMOCK SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 5, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIG. I. FIG.2.

lNVE NTORS JOHN P. COLE AND WILLIAM A. WINTERS Sr.

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HAMMOCK SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 5, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INIVENTORS JOHN P. COLE AND WILLIAM AWIMTERS Sr ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 HAMMOCK SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY John P. Cole and William A. Winters, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.; said Winters assignor to said Cole Application August 5, 1946, Serial No. 688,442 9 Claims. (Cl. -128) The present invention relates to a hammock assembly and more particularly to a hammock having a supporting frame with an adjustable canopy therefor.

Numerous arrangements have been devised for providing a supporting frame for a hammock and some of these frames have been provided with canopies for shielding the occupant of a hammock supported in the frame from the sun and from the elements. Some of these prior devices, while usable, are difficult and expensive to manufacture, subject to possible structural weakness, and unwieldy to set up and take down.

An object of the present invention is to make an improved and simplified hammock assembly.

Another object is to make a hammock supporting frame adapted to be mounted on any reasonably level area, such as in a garden or patio, the frame being made of assembled sections.

Another object is to make an improved demountable sectional hammock supporting frame assembly, the members of which are smoothly contoured, and of a novel design for facility in manufacture and strength of the resultant product.

Another object is to connect frame members of a hammock supporting frame by socketed Y members formed of complementarv semi-circular channeled members welded together to form elements of tubular cross section, these Y members being adapted to be jointed to adiacent frame members by relati ely telescoping joints.

In order to attain these objects there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a central tubular frame structure with a pair of Y end frame fittings formed of com lementary semi-circular elements welded together to rovide a structure of tubular cross section each having a notched out area adapted to receive a mounting device for mounting a hammock and a canopy therein. These end fittings, to gether with interfitted tubular structural elements, provide a four-leg ed arched support adapted to swing a hammock thereon, and adjustably to support a canopy having laterally arching support means embodied therein over the hammock area of the device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the present invention showing a hammock support frame 2 having a hammock swung therein and witha protective canopy mounted thereover;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the arrangement shown in Fig. l, a canopy being shown in normal position in solid lines and in tilted adjusted position in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of a protective canopy being broken away and a portion of a transverse tubular frame member being broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a Y end frame member, a portion of the side thereof being broken away, hammock and canopy supporting chains being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the fragment shown in Fig. 4 with the chains removed;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 1-'! of Fig. 5; 1

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a telescopically joined portion of the frame;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 4, showing a modified form of hook for securing the canopy supporting chain to the Y frame member;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a section of pipe prior to bending and forming to make a Y frame member;

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of the pipe shown in Fig. 10 after initial bending and slotting thereof; 4

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the bent and slotted pipe shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan view similar to Fig. 12 with the lower ends of the pipe on opposite sides of the slot therein bent outwardly away from each other to the form shown in Fig, 5;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through a ferrule showing an alternate method of joining the tubular frame members to each other;

Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of Y connection; and I Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken as looking in the direction of the arrows l6-|6 in Fig. 15, and showing an inwardly bent stop tab for limiting the insertion of a tubular leg member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a hammock frame it! comprises a central tubular frame member II with a pair of similar top Y frame end members l2 and I3 connected thereto. The connection between the central tubular member II and the top end members l2 and 13 may be by tubes.

means of a telescopic joint as illustrated in Fig. 8. The connection in Fig. 8 is made by drilling a plurality of holes I4 near the end of one of the joining tubular members, for example the member II, and inserting a short piece of tubin I6 of a size to have a telescopic fit therein into the end of the member II thus drilled. Plu welds I! then are formed in the holes, welding'the outer tube II and inner tube I6 together as a. substantially unitary structure.

The short tubular member I6 projects beyond the end of the member II in which it thus is inserted, and the projecting end portion of the tube I6 is adapted to be inserted telescopically into the end of the abutting tubular member I3 to be joined thereto. The central member II thus may be joined to the upper end Y members I2 and I3 by strong and inconspicuous joints. The upper end Y members I2 and I3 are each bent downward near their outer ends as shown inFigsA and 5.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, ll, .12 and 13, the lower end of this downrvardlybent portion is slotted at is in a vertical median plane of the tube to a point just above a straight outer end portion thereof, as best illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. The lower end divisions I9 and 20 of the tube on opposite sides of the-slot then are bent outwardly away from each is divided on a median plane and is bent reversely in the form of an inverted V so as to fit between the outwardly bent legs I9 and 2B of the members I2 and I3, as illustrated in Fig. 5. This piece 2I is welded in place as by the welds 22 so that, together with the semi-circular legs I9 and 20, it forms a pair of substantially tubu- Jar sockets 23 and 24 with their axes disposed at an angle of approximately 60 from each other.

.By mounting the inverted V-shaped member 21 in this manner, a triangular opening 26 (see Fig. is left between the curved upper portion of the inverted V-shaped member 2I and the apex of .the division between the legs I9 and 20. The outer upper edge of the inserted member 2! which thus is left exposed in this triangular space has a notch 27 cut therein to receive a link of a hammock supporting chain 28. The method of mounting the link in this notch is best illustrated in Fig. 4, the chain being secured against slipping by the next successive link, which rests transversely against the outer face of the notch.

A pair of tubular support legs 29 and 3e are mounted one in each of the tubular sockets 23 and 24. The legs may be mounted in the sockets in the same manner as is illustrated in Fig. 8 or, if desired, legs of smaller diameter, of a size to fit telescopically within the sockets may be provided as illustrated in Figs. 6, 15 and 16. If the smaller diameter legs are used, it is desirable to provide a stop to limit the insertion of the tubular leg members in their sockets. Such stops may belprovided by cutting tabs SI and 32 in the side walls of the sockets and bending these tabs inwardly to engage the upper ends of the inserted theside wallof one oi the semi-tubularmembers is deformed inwardly as at 35 before welding so In the form of stop illustrated in Fig. 6,

may be provided as illustrated in Fig. 14. In this construction a length 33 of tubing of larger diameter than the interfitting members, such as the members II and I2, is welded as at 34 to one of the members and is positioned to project beyond the end of the member to which it is welded. The other member then can be inserted telescopically into this larger tubular section. The abutting of the ends of the interfitted tubular members serve to limit the depth of insertion.

A modified form of Y connection is illustrated in Fig. 15. In this construction two stampings 36 and 3'! of Y-shaped and semi-circular cross sectional form are provided, and are adapted to fit together edge to edge to form a tubular Y fitting substantially as is illustrated in Fig. 5. The parts are welded together at several points along their abutting edges to make a. curved Y- shaped member of substantially tubular cross section.

A pair of canopy supporting hooks 3,8 and 39 may be made of bent band iron with a reversely bent hook portion 48 adapted to have hooked engagement in the triangular opening 26 with the apex of the outer slot in the Y member. A fiat portion 4| of the hook is adapted to rest against the outer upper curved face of the Y member, and an upright bent portion 42 of the hook has a keyhole slot 43 therein.

The upper end of the keyhole slot is of a size to permit a link canopy support chain 46 to pass freely therethrough while the narrow lower end portion of the slot is of a size to permit the chain to be held therein, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A rather strong .coil spring 55 is mounted in one of the canopy chains. The canopy support chains are connected one to each of a pair of end bars 37 and 48 mounted one on each end of a canvas canopy 49.

In the modified canopy hook shown in Fig. 9, a short length of steel rod is bent into the form of an S hook 45, one end of the hook being .inserted in the triangular opening 26, and the other end being hooked into the canopy support chain 4%.

The canopy 49 has a .pair of flexible rods sewed into pockets transversely of the canopy so as to rest approximately on the inner downturned portion of the Y end members I 2 and I3. These flexible transverse rods 50 bow downwardly under increased tension on the canopy support chains a! and 4.3. Frictional engagement between the flexible transverse rods 50 and the frame I0 hold the canopy in tilted adjusted position, By this means an occupant of the hammock can tilt the canopy to a desired angle merely by reaching up and grasping the edge of the canopy and pulling it slightly to one side .or the other, the canopy tending to tilt to the side toward which it is moved away from a central position on the frame.

The device comprises a simple, sturdy and attractive appearing hammock support assembly which is .adapted to quantity production. It may easily be transported and shipped in a knocked down condition. The provision of the flexible transverse members in the canopy greatly improves its functioning and adjustability and add substantially to the life of the canopy.

We claim:

1. A hammock supporting assembly comprising a frame having a central top frame member, a pair of downwardly and outwardly sloping tubular top end members, telescopically connected thereto, the outer ends of said top end members being bent downwardly 'at'an angle approaching the perpendicular from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members being divided longitudinally on a vertical plane, the portions thereof on opposite sides of the plane of division being separated at a divergent angle, a reversely bent member of semicircular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as the tubes of said end members interfitted between the separated divergent ends of said upper end mem bers and welded thereto to provide a pair of divergent downwardly directed sockets, a pair of tubular legs having telescopic connection with said sockets, a canopy mounted over the upper portion of said frame and means for supporting a hammock between the outer ends of the socketed upper end members.

2. A hammock supporting frame having a central top frame member, a pair of tubular top end members connected thereto, the outer ends of said top end members being bent downwardly from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members having a pair of legs of semi-circular cross section disposed at a divergent angle to each other, a member of semi-circular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as the tube of said end member fitted to said top end member and welded thereto to provide a pair of divergent downwardly directed sockets and a pair of tubular legs having telescopic connection with said sockets.

3. A hammock supporting assembly comprising a frame having a central top frame member, a pair of downwardly and outwardly sloping tubular top end members telescopically connected thereto, the outer end of said top end members being bent downwardly at an angle approaching the perpendicular from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members being divided longitudinally on a vertical plane, the portions thereof on opposite sides of the plane of division being separated at a divergent angle, a member of semi-circular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as the tube of said end member fitted edgewise to the separated divergent ends of said upper end members and welded thereto to provide a pair of divergent downwardly directed sockets, a pair of tubular legs having telescopic connection with said sockets, a canopy mounted over the upper portion of said frame and means for supporting a hammock between the outer ends of the socketed upper end members,

the hammock supporting means exerting a tensile stress on the top frame members to draw them toward a relatively assembled relation.

4. A hammock supporting assembly comprising a frame having a central top frame member, a pair of downwardly and outwardly sloping tubular top end members telescopically connected thereto, the outer ends of said top end members being bent downwardly at an angle approaching the perpendicular from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members being divided longitudinally on a vertical plane, the portions thereof on opposite sides of the plane of division being separated at a divergent angle, a reversely bent member of semicircular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as the tube of said end members, said reversely bent member being interfitted between the separated divergent end of said upper end members and welded thereto to provide a pair of divergent of said canopy,

downwardly directed sockets, the reversely bent member terminating short of the apex of the division of the outer ends of said top end members, the upper edge of the reversely bent member having a chain receiving and locking notch therein, a canopy mounted over the upper portion of said frame and a hammock having a chain secured to each end thereof, each chain having interlocking connection with a notch in said reversely bent member.

5. A hammock supporting assembly comprising a frame having a central top member and having a pair of tubular top end members, the outer ends of said top end member being bent downwardly at an angle approaching the prependicular from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members being divided longitudinally thereof and terminating in a pair of semi-tubular divergent legs, a complementary member of semi-circular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as said end members fitted to complete the tubular form of the divergent legs of said upper end members and welded thereto to provide a pair of divergent downwardly directed sockets, a pair of legs of circular cross section having telescopic connection with said sockets, and means for supporting a hammock between the outer ends of the socketed upper end members.

6. A hammock supporting assembly comprising a frame having a central member and a pair of downwardly sloping tubular top end members, the outer ends of said top end members being bent downwardly at an angle approaching the perpendicular from the central top member, the downwardly bent outer ends of said top end members terminating in pairs of divergent downwardly directed sockets, a pair of legs of circular cross section having telescopic connection with said sockets, means for supporting a hammock between the outer ends of the socketed upper end members, a canopy of flexible material, a pair of end stiffening members mounted one in each end resilient adjustable tension means connecting the ends of said canopy to said frame, and a pair of resiliently flexible members inserted transversely of said canopy intermediate the ends thereof, said inserted members being adapted to engage an upper portion of said frame to be bowed downwardly thereby.

'7. In a hammock supporting frame having a central top frame member and a pair of legs spaced from each end thereof, the legs of each pair being arranged divergent in the shape of an inverted V, a Y-shaped connection element at each end of said central frame member connecting the same to said legs, and comprising a tubular member having a main section and an end section bent at an angle approaching a right angle to the main section, the end section being divided longitudinally on a vertical plane with the portions thereof on opposite sides of the plane of division being separated at a divergent angle, and a reversely bent member of semi-circular cross section having substantially the same diameter of transverse curvature as said tubular member interfitted between the separated divergent portions of the end section of said tabular member and secured thereto to provide a pair of divergent sockets for said legs.

8. In a hammock supporting frame having a central top frame member and a pair of legs spaced from each end thereof, the legs of each pair being arranged divergent in the shape of an inverted V, a Y-shaped connection element at each end of said central frame member connecting the same to said legs, and comprising a member having a main section and a pair of divergent end sections, said end sections being disposed in the same plane at an angle to the main section and being semi-circular in cross section, and a complementary member having a pair of divergent portions of semi-circular shape in cross section secured to the end sections of said first mentioned member and cooperating therewith to form a pair of sockets for said legs.

9. In a hammock supporting frame having a central top frame member and a pair of legs spaced from each end thereof, the legs of each pair being arranged divergent in the shape of an inverted v, a Y-shaped connection element at each end of said central frame member connecting the same to said legs, and comprising a pair of complementary Y-shaped elements each having a main section and a pair of divergent end sections, said main section and said end sections being of semi-circular shape in cross section, and

8 means securing the elements together in abutting edge relation whereby a tubular Y-shaped element is formed.

JOHN P. COLE. WILLIAM A. WINTERS, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

